About The Jenkins County times. (Millen, Ga.) 2023-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 2023)
jenkinscountytimes.com The Jenkins County Times Wednesday, September 13, 2023 - Page 3 Pastor Jordan Clayton Senior pastor at East Burke Baptist Church in Sardis. Never Give Up Do you remember the story from your childhood called, "The Little Engine That Could?" You'll recall that the little engine was faced with a steep climb and was unsuccessful in making it to the top all because he believed that he wouldn't be able to make it. He changed his way of thinking and began to tell himself, "I think I can, I think I can." Upon trying again, the positive mindset allowed him to muster the strength to persevere. Another such lesson can be seen by looking at how elephants are trained. The elephant trainer will take a small, thin rope and will use it to secure a baby elephant to a post. The elephant struggles and cries, but soon realizes he simply isn't strong enough to break free. The trainer will use the same small length of rope to secure the animal as it grows all the way to maturity. The elephant will stay right next to the post and won't ever try to break free because he has been conditioned to believe that the rope is too strong for him to break. Even though he now weighs thousands of pounds and possesses incredible strength, he simply doesn't believe he can break free, and so he never tries. The same thing is often true for us as Christians. We often give up before reaching our full potential because we don't realize how strong we really are in Christ. We need to remember the determination of the little engine and try to muscle our way through to victory more often. Don't give up and never admit defeat. Remember that you and Jesus together are a majority and that all things are possible for them that believe. After all, nothing is impossible for God! A man and woman lost on a deserted island decided that they would walk and try to find a way of escape. They walked tirelessly for days, climbing hill after hill, mile after mile. They got to the point where they just couldn't walk anymore, and they decided together to give up. They stopped and laid down and died right there where they stopped. Moments later, a group of tourists stumbled across their bodies lying there in the sand. One man hollered to another, "we can carry them back to town, it's just over the next hill." The couple gave up just one hill too soon. If only they had kept going, just a little farther, they would have realized that the island wasn't deserted at all. In fact, they were only a few steps away from a tropical resort paradise. We need to believe the best about ourselves and never accept defeat. Paul said it so well in Philippians 3:14. He said, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." That's what it's all about, friends. You can make it if you just believe and never give up. \\c\eoin(‘ to qhV ClifiiWi East Burke Baptist Church Sunday Services 11 a.m. Pastor: Jordan Clayton Hwy 24 Sardis, GA Please call 706-526-1733 for more information. Mii.i.f.n Baptist Church Come join us!! Morning Worship 11AM Sunday School 9:45 a.m. 219 N. Gray St, Millen, GA 478-982-5411 Pastor Brad Asbury pastorbradasbury@gmail. c om Mii.i.f.n Methodist Church Morning Worship 11AM Sunday School 10 a.m. 413 N. Gray St, Millen, GA 478-982-2664 Pastor John Drake For questions about our services, please email us @ millenmethodistchurch@gmail.com Oak Hill Baptist Church Sunday School: 9 a.m. Sunday Morning: 10 a.m. Wednesday: 7 p.m. Choir practice - Bible Study Youth Group - Kids Mission Group 3233 Oak Hill Church Rd„ Millen, GA Pastor: Joshua Johnson 478-982-1616 www.oakhillmillen.com Scarboro Baptist Church 4204 Scarboro Church Loop Millen, GA 30442 706-466-4494 Pastor: Perry Hearn Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m. Due to the fire, this will be our service time until further notice. Trinity Episcopal Church 4401 Country Club Rd, Statesboro, GA Sunday Eucharist 8:15 a.m. and 10:30a.m. Father Charles Todd, Rector Jonathan Murphy, Music Director. 912-489-4208 www.facebook.com/TrinityEpiscopalStatesboro Words of Encouragement By Joshua Johnson, Special Contributor for The Times Pastor Oak Hill Baptist Church, Millen Are you stretching me out? "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. ’’ Getting in the car to go anywhere with my children is like playing whack-a-mole. We must make sure we have all the necessary accessories - pacifier, diaper bag, bottle, water bottles, and then whatever is needed for our outing. Then we must get all the kids in the car and in their car seats. Getting everyone to the door is one mission, then getting them into the car is the next. When we go out the door everyone scatters to play with a different toy. By the time we’re all in the car, everyone is stressed. The other day, while we were loading up to go somewhere, my oldest son Jude said, “You guys are stressing me out!” to which my middle son Jax replied, “Am I stretching you out?” We heard stressing but Jax heard stretching. It made me stop and consider the difference between the words for a moment, and the difference in outcomes when we have a stressed mindset versus a stretched mindset. Once on a mission trip, the team leader led us in a nightly exercise called “stretched and blessed”. He would go around the group and ask us one way God blessed us that day (a highlight) and one day God stretched us (a challenge). We all realized during “stretched and blessed” that we were just “blessed and blessed” because all the stressors that stretched us, only led to growth. What if we began to see God’s hand in our stressors and looked at them as God stretching us for growth? James 1:2-4 talks about seeing God’s hand at work in our lives - especially in trials, or stressful moments and seasons. This passage is a good reminder that God is working out even our stressful moments to strengthen us in our faith and walk with Him. Even if we can’t stop and see how God is working in the moment, we can have faith that He will work through the stress and trial to use it for our growth in Him. It is leaning into Him in faith that causes our faith and endurance to grow. This week, when you encounter a trial or stressful moment, instead of dwelling on the stress, think about how God can use this to stretch you. Remember James 1:2-4 this week, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know> that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. ’’ God, are You stretching me out? This section is a complimentary service for Jenkins County and surrounding area churches listed in the Church Directory. We will run your church news for two weeks. Email announcements to thejenkinscountytimes@gmail.com or drop them off at our office Tuesday, Thursday or Friday at 425 Hwy 25 S„ Millen, GA. Our deadline is noon on Fridays for the following week. f EXCITING WORSHIP ^ Oak Hill Baptist Church 3233 Oak Hill Church Rd, Millen, GA 30442 Download Oak Hill Church APP Today! c Joshua Johnson, Senior Pastor j ADVERTISE K TRUSTED SOURCE SeatJenkins County Times _rJ 2JJ jJ X J W What's going on in your church? Homecoming? Celebrations? New Pastor? email us or call us at: thejenkinscountytimes@gmail.com 478-451-5007 Help visitors find you! List your church in the directory for six months $60 or one year $120 Call: (912) 451-NEWS or 478-401-5007 T-Th-F Do you need to add, remove, or change any information of your listing in the church directory? Give us a call or email me at: deb.jctimes@gmail.com CHECK OUT OUR Daily Specials ON Facebook (478)982-2390 537 East Winthrope Ave. Millen, Georgia 30442
